April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 18

W E A R E P A R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N

Industry Pioneer Dr. Joe Frost
Passes Away on Feb. 17
'Contemporary Father of Play Advocacy' devoted career to play and child
development research
By Lindsay Collins

A

fter committing nearly 50 years to researching and advocating
for the importance of both play and safe play spaces, Dr. Joe
Frost came to be known as the " Contemporary Father of Play
Advocacy. " Frost, who began his academic career studying
child development at the University of Arkansas, the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland, went on to earn his doctorate from
the University of Arkansas. Subsequently, he served as an assistant professor of child development at Iowa State University before taking a position
at the University of Texas at Austin in 1966, where he retired after 34 years
as the Parker Centennial Professor Emeritus.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE U.S. PLAY COALITION

During his tenure as professor
at University of Texas at Austin,
Frost directed a research project
on play and play environments that
spanned nearly four decades - the
longest running research project
in this realm to be conducted in
the United States. The site of the
research was the playground at Redeemer Lutheran, where Frost attended church.
Fran Mainella, former director
of the National Park Service and
past president of NRPA, recalls

16

Parks & Recreation

Frost's coining of the term " play
deprivation crisis " as critically influential during a time when recreation was declining in the United
States. " Since the '80s, play and
its value had started to decrease, "
says Mainella. " That impacted visitation to the national parks, local
parks, state parks - all the different areas that I had been working
in through the years. In 2009, [there
was] a summit on the value of play,
and [Frost] was one of our speakers. He talked about how we had a
play deprivation crisis underway,
not only in the United States, but
in the world. He talked about how
this needed to not be overlooked,
and so many people were overlooking it. That really hit home for me
and inspired me to create the U.S.
Play Coalition. "
Throughout his career, Frost published 20 books and many more academic articles, as well as collected
research and writings on play and
childhood development. Many of

| A P R I L 2 02 0 | PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G

Frost's works have been translated
into numerous other languages. In
2004, Frost donated his collection
of books, articles and research to the
University of the Incarnate Word.
Frost's research also led to numerous other published books based on
his work. Mary Ruth Moore, editor
of Play in American Life: Essays in
Honor of Joe L. Frost and Play in American Life, Vol. 2: Essays in Honor of Joe
L. Frost, regards Frost both as a mentor and a friend. Recalling her time
at University of Texas at Austin with
Frost, she says, " I was just amazed...
because he was not like many of the
other professors I'd had. He wanted
to know you. When you came into
his office, there was a sense of 'Oh,
I'm important here.' He valued you
as a person and always saw the potential that you have. "
Frost is remembered as a pioneer in his field, shaping the world
of play and play environments
while advocating for all children
to have the right to play. " It's hard
to divorce [Frost's] work from
him, because he was an incredibly
humble person who cared deeply
about others, and it came through
in every single thing he did, " says
Moore. " That was the kind of man
he was. He just went out of his way
to help others. "
Lindsay Collins is Associate Editor for
Parks & Recreation magazine
(lcollins@nrpa.org).



April 2020 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2020 - Parks & Recreation

April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 1
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 2
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 3
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 4
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 5
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 6
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 7
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 8
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 9
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 10
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 11
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 12
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 13
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 14
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 15
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 16
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 17
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 18
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 19
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 20
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 21
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 22
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 23
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 24
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 25
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 26
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 27
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 28
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 29
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 30
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 31
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 32
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 33
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 34
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 35
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 36
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 37
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 38
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 39
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 40
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 41
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 42
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 43
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 44
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 45
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 46
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 47
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 48
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 49
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 50
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 51
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 52
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 53
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 54
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 55
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 56
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 57
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 58
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 59
April 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 60
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2009
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com